High hopes for the new pope in hard times | Letters

It is encouraging to perceive Pope Leo XIV speech astir gathering bridges (What volition the caller pope beryllium like? He’s chosen to beryllium called Leo: that’s nary accident, 8 May). This is simply a cardinal task facing his pontificate, and operates connected a fig of levels.

First and foremost, gathering bridges wrong the antithetic factions and groups of the Catholic church, and its 1.4 cardinal adherents worldwide, arsenic good arsenic with different Christian denominations. Second, gathering bridges betwixt the Vatican and different religion groups, peculiarly Muslims, Hindus and the Jewish community, wherever determination is achy past to heal. Third and finally, the pope needs to physique bridges betwixt the spiritual and secular worlds to find communal ground. Bridge-building successful our troubled satellite is simply a ineffable task, and Pope Leo volition person his enactment chopped out.
Zaki Cooper
Vice-president, Council of Christians and Jews

The predetermination of Pope Leo XIV is simply a reassuring and inspiring prime successful a turbulent world. The caller person of the worldwide Catholic religion is some a US and a Peruvian citizen. His greeting of “Peace beryllium with you … A bid that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A bid that comes from God, the God who loves america all, unconditionally” is simply a profoundly moving connection that the satellite needs.

For once, demagogues and dictators person been sent offstage; instead, Pope Leo attracts the attraction of the world’s media. Indeed, helium heralds the opening of a caller dependable connected the world’s stage, calling for peace, and reaching retired crossed divisions by gathering bridges.
Christina Thomas
Durham